Tasmania Road Trip Itinerary
Often called the love child of Australia and New Zealand, Tasmania is an island that’s reputed for its untouched nature and teeming wildlife! If you’re raring for an adventure that’s pretty much off the beaten track, this destination nestled off the main island of Australia is definitely one for the history books.
Self-drive from Hobart to Launceston
We recommend starting your adventure in Hobart and ending it in Launceston. To get to Tasmania, simply hop on an open-jaw flight or the ‘Spirit of Tasmania’ ferry from Melbourne.
A road trip is the best way to discover the island: grab your rental car from Klook, where you can pick from trusted brands such as Hertz and Avis. Choose from nifty compact vehicles and family SUVs, plus everything in between. The best part? There’s even free cancellation available should your travel plans suddenly change. Car rentals usually come with a GPS, but make sure you get a good SIM card too as a backup, and upload pictures on the go.
#KlookTip: Before you fly, remember to apply for your NZeTA (a travel visa) in advance. You’ll also need a National Parks Pass. Forgo the 24-hour pass for the two-month pass, which makes more sense costs-wise. Each pass is for one vehicle, and is valid for up to eight people.
Day 1: Hobart
Hobart is the second-oldest and capital city of Tasmania, offering delightful views of the sea. It’s easy to get around on foot; alternatively, get onboard a sightseeing coach tram tour or a hop-on-hop-off loop bus.
Must-dos at Hobart
Trawl the Salamanca Market
If you happen to be in Hobart on a Saturday, you’re in luck — from 8.30am to 3pm, the city comes alive with the bustling Salamanca Market. Spend the morning browsing through more than 200 stalls peddling fresh produce, unique souvenirs, and artisan works.
Other Hobart highlights
- Explore the Hobart waterfront
- Dine at the famous Mures seafood, or grab a quick bite at the food trucks
- Discover the Battery Point neighbourhood, home to the Jackman & Mcross Café’s famous Tasmanian scallop pie
- Visit MONA (Museum of Old and New Art)
- Have a whiskey tasting at Sullivans Cove Distillery
#KlookTip: For even better savings, arm yourself with the Klook Pass Tasmania, which gets you up to 28% off eight different attractions!
Optional day trips from Hobart
Mt. Wellington Guided Morning Tour from Hobart
- Seafood Seduction cruise
Stay at: Hobart
Day 2: Bruny Island
Distance: 32.8 kilometres to Kettering Ferry Terminal
Drive duration: 32 minutes
The next morning, take a 20-minute ferry (timetable here) from Kettering Ferry Terminal for a day trip to Bruny Island. Don’t worry about your car, as your ferry tickets include passage for your car as well. Fun fact: Bruny Island is around the size of Singapore, but is home to only 600 residents!
Must-do at Bruny Island
Go on an epicurean extravaganza
Bruny Island is known for its gastronomic scene, boasting some of the freshest produce the country has to offer. Indulge your sweet tooth at Bruny Island Chocolate Co., enjoy a wine tasting at Bruny Island Premium Wines, down a beer flight at Bruny Island Cheese & Beer Co., as well as grab souvenirs from Bruny Island Honey.
Other Bruny Island highlights
- Enjoy a panoramic view from Truganini Lookout (The Neck)
- Go for a dip at Adventure Bay
- Visit the lighthouse
- Embark on a scenic walk to Cape Queen Elizabeth
- Take a wildlife cruise
Not sure where to start? This tour hits all the good spots.
Stay at: Kettering
Day 3: Tasman Peninsula
Distance: 104 kilometres
Drive duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Feast your eyes on dramatic coastlines all along the Tasman Peninsula, complete with golden sandy beaches and sparkling waters. Part of the Tasman National Park, the peninsula is home to staggering 300-metre cliffs, which are the highest in all of Australia!
Must-do at Tasman Peninsula
Walk across the Tessellated Pavement
It might seem man-made, but believe it or not, the Tessellated Pavement is entirely created by Mother Nature! Formed by the earth’s movements and the crystallisation of salt crystals, the result is a stunning rectangular pattern that’s best visited during low tide.
Other Tasman Peninsula highlights
- Visit the Pirate’s Bay lookout
- Grab a coffee from the Cubed Espresso Bar food truck
- See the Blowhole, Tasman Arch, and Devil’s Kitchen formations
- Eat at the Doolishus food truck
#KlookTip: Learn all about the Tasmanian Devils at Unzoo, where most of the animals are wild. Don’t miss out on the Devil Den, where you can get close to the creatures by sticking your head into a glass dome.
Stay at: Triabunna
Distance: 73.1 kilometres to Triabunna
Drive duration: 1 hour 11 minutes
Day 4: Maria Island
Photo credit: Maria Island National Park
A 30-minute ferry (timetable here) from Triabunna Wharf will bring you to Maria Island. There aren’t any vehicles allowed on the island, but you can easily park your car at the big carpark next to the wharf. Rugged and spectacular, Maria Island’s nature landscapes are as untouched as it gets!
You won’t find any restaurants or food establishments here too, so it’d be best to pack a picnic.
#KlookTip: As Maria Island constitutes a National Park in itself, you’ll need to show your National Parks Pass at the ferry counter before collecting your ferry tickets.
Must-do at Maria Island
Visit the Painted Cliffs
You have to see them to believe them: the Painted Cliffs are an incredible rock formation that’s a result of both wind and wave erosion. Feast your eyes on cliffs that are covered in a myriad of swirling patterns! It takes around 1.5 to two hours to get there on foot from Darlington.
#KlookTip: The Painted Cliffs are only accessible two hours before and after low tide. Check the tide timetable online or at the visitor centre before making the hike.
Other Maria Island highlights
- Hike to the Fossil Cliffs
- Spot wild wombats
- Check out Darlington Probation Station, a previous Australian convict site
- Rent a bicycle (this will save you lots of walking time)
- Spot a migrating whale between May and July
Stay at: Coles Bay
Distance: 108 kilometres
Drive duration: 1 hour 25 minutes
Day 5: Freycinet National Park + Bicheno
Affectionately known as the Jewel of Tasmania’s Eastern coastline, Freycinet National Park is packed with cosy bays tucked among fine beaches and rocky landscapes.
Distance: 4.6 kilometres to Wineglass Bay Lookout Track
Drive duration: 9 minutes
Must-do at Freycinet National Park
Hike up to the Wineglass Bay lookout
One of the area’s most famous views, Wineglass Bay is best viewed from the lookout — which can be reached via a two-hour return hike. If you’re feeling fit, you can even continue on the five-hour loop track to Hazards Beach.
Other Freycinet National Park highlights
- Enjoy the views at Sleepy Bay
- Go snorkelling at Honeymoon Bay
- Climb Mt. Atmos (challenging four-hour return hike)
- Stroll the Cape Tourville Circuit
- Visit the family-run Freycinet Vineyard and Winery
- Have a seafood feast at Freycinet Marine Farm
Next, drive to Bicheno, a little town with a delightful relaxed seaside vibe.
Distance: 42.4 kilometres
Drive duration: 38 minutes
Must-do at Bicheno
Marvel at the Bicheno Blowhole
The force of ocean waves has carved out a sea cave underneath the coast, and frequently erupts out of a hole in its ceiling. This causes water to shoot out like a geyser, and is really quite a sight to behold!
Other Bicheno highlights
- Dine at the Lobster Shack
- Watch fairy penguins come ashore at dusk
- See Governor Island Marine Reserve from a glass-bottomed boat
- View native animals at East Coast Nature World
Stay at: Binalong Bay
Distance: 88.2 kilometres
Drive duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Day 6: Bay of Fires
Distance: 19.9 kilometres to Bay of Fires (The Gardens)
Drive duration: 26 minutes
Just imagine: striking blue skies and shimmering aquamarine ocean, contrasted against vibrant orange lichen-covered boulders. Stretching more than 50 kilometres from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point, the postcard-perfect bay boasts a whole line-up of secluded beaches and rocky inlets.
Must-do at Bay of Fires
Clamber on bright orange rocks
Make your way to the little lookout point at the end of Gardens Road, where you can amble along boardwalks for some of the best views. Take your time to clamber among and over the giant fiery-coloured rocks, head down to the beach for a refreshing dip and, if you’re lucky, you might even spot some dolphins or a migrating whale.
Other Bay of Fires highlights
- Enjoy a picnic at Honeymoon Point
- Swim at Skeleton Bay Reserve
- Snorkel in any of the rock pools
Stay at: Launceston
Distance: 192 kilometres
Drive duration: 2 hours 44 minutes
#KlookTip: If you need to break the journey up, make a pit stop at St. Marys (60.9 kilometres and 1 hour 4 minutes drive from Bay of Fires; 131 kilometres and 1 hour 35 minutes drive to Launceston). At St. Marys, you can go check out Mathinna Falls (30-minute walk from the carpark), and grab a bite at Purple Possum Wholefoods and Café.
Day 7: Launceston + Tamar Valley Wine Route
Your tastebuds are in for a treat at Launceston, which has been dubbed a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Dig into top-notch Tasmanian fare, trawl through farmer markets, and enjoy farm-to-plate dining at its finest.
Must-do at Launceston
Shop produce at the Harvest Market
Photo credit: Harvest Launceston
Held every Saturday from 8.30am to 12.30pm, the Harvest Market has around 50 stalls, which are mostly helmed by the food producers themselves. Fill your basket with freshly roasted coffee, olive oil, the freshest produce (raspberries or asparagus, anyone?), farmhouse cheeses, or a variety of heirloom vegetables.
Other Launceston highlights
Photo credit: Bread+Butter
- Visit the Queen Victoria Museum
- Tour the James Boag Brewery
- Say bottoms up at the Saint John Craft Beer Bar
- Grab fresh pastries from the Bread+Butter café
- Enjoy a slow brunch at Tatler Lane by Sweetbrew
Tamar Valley Wine Route
Distance: 13.3 kilometres to Legana, at the start of the route
Drive duration: 17 minutes
The Tamar Valley Wine Route brings wine aficionados through a loop of nearly 30 cellar doors. Small Wonders Wines offers tastings against a magnificent rolling vineyard backdrop, be transported into another world altogether at Josef Chromy Winery, or even pamper yourself at the onsite day spa (after a tasting, of course!) at Swinging Gate Vineyard.
Stay at: Launceston
Day 8: Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail + Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary
Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail
Distance: 30.2 kilometres to the start of the trail
Drive duration: 25 minutes
Calling all foodies, here’s looking at you! The 200-kilometre stretch from Launceston to Smithton makes up the Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail (download a map here), which is dotted with 42 producers touting some of the finest produce in the region. Highlights include Ashgrove Dairy Door, Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm Café, The Truffle Farm (where you can go on a Truffle Hunt!), Melita Honey Farm, Anvers Chocolate Factory, Cradle Coast Olives, and more.
Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary
Distance: 27.8 kilometres from Ashgrove Dairy Door
Drive duration: 26 minutes
Take it from us: Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary is sorely underrated. Depending on your Tasting Trail route, you can also choose to visit the sanctuary halfway through your foodie adventure. Placing conservation at its core, the sanctuary is home to all sorts of native wildlife, on top of native flora and fauna. Check out free-roaming kangaroos, wombats, cassowaries, quolls and, of course, the Tasmanian devils.
#KlookTip: Don’t miss out on the free 45-minute interactive tours at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm daily, which includes viewing a Tasmanian Devil feeding session, as well as meeting a wombat.
Stay at: Cradle Mountain vicinity (we recommend the Discovery Parks!)
Distance: 77.7 kilometres to Discovery Parks
Drive duration: 1 hour 14 minutes
Day 9: Cradle Mountain
Part of Lake St. Clair National Park, Cradle Mountain is one of the top highlights of Tasmania. Be immersed in a world of lush rainforests, tranquil glacier lakes, and rugged peaks, as you embark on a variety of walking trails that range in difficulty. If you’re up for it, the star of the show is the Overland Track, which is a five- to six-day walking track that spans 80 kilometres.
#KlookTip: No personal vehicles are allowed into the National Park. Show your park pass at the visitor centre to receive a 24-hour bus pass, which you can use to get onboard a shuttle bus.
Must-do at Cradle Mountain
Go on the Dove Lake Walk
Comprising an easy two- to three-hour loop around Dove Lake, the Dove Lake Walk will take you right to the water’s edge to the iconic boatshed, through dense forests, and to Glacier Rock. P.S. This walk is suitable for all ages too!
Other Cradle Mountain highlights
- Take on the more challenging four-hour return Marion’s lookout hike
- Spot wild wombats at Ronny’s Creek
- Wander along the 20-minute return Enchanted Walk
Stay at: Cradle Mountain vicinity
Day 12: Cataract Gorge + Launceston
Distance: 140 kilometres to Cataract Gorge
Drive duration: 1 hour 54 minutes
Cataract Gorge
Unwind at Cataract Gorge, a 65-million-year gorge located just a stone’s throw away from Launceston. Hop onto the chairlift, cross the Kings Bridge or Alexandra Suspension Bridge, visit the Victorian garden, and take a dip in the public swimming pool.
Afterwards, either make your way to Launceston Airport (and return your car there too!), or head back into Launceston city centre for some grub before your flight back to Melbourne.
Distance: 14 kilometres to Launceston airport
Drive duration: 15 minutes
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